News
New book on history of Kerry’s houses launched at Muckross

By Sean Moriarty
History buffs of Kerry and particularly Killarney will be hoping a copy of ‘The Big House in Kerry’ will be under the tree on Christmas Day.

NEW BOOK: Gene and Kathleen MacGillycuddy (left) with Rose and Nicholas MacGillycuddy at the launch of Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book ‘The Big House in Kerry'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

LAUNCH: Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book ‘The Big House in Kerry' was launched by former Labour leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

CALLING: Don Rohan (resident butler) calling guests to the launch in Muckross House Killarney of Tralee historian Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

ATTENDING: Rose and Nicholas MacGillycuddy at the launch of ‘The Big House in Kerry'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

READING: Historian Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe overlooks former Labour Leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring at the lunch of her new book. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

GUESTS: At the book launch in Muckross House were former Labour leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring (left) Ann Tangney (Head Guide at Muckross House) and Maurice O'Keeffe (Irish Life and Lore). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

GROUP: Brendan O'Mahony Ruth O'Mahony Dan Kelleher and Karol O'Mahony (architect and contributor) at the launch of Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book ‘The Big House in Kerry'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

MEETING: Former Labour leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring Jane's husband Maurice O'Keeffe (left) and Dr John Knightly (Contributor) at the launch of Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

NEW BOOK: Gene and Kathleen MacGillycuddy (left) with Rose and Nicholas MacGillycuddy at the launch of Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book ‘The Big House in Kerry'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

LAUNCH: Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book ‘The Big House in Kerry' was launched by former Labour leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

CALLING: Don Rohan (resident butler) calling guests to the launch in Muckross House Killarney of Tralee historian Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

ATTENDING: Rose and Nicholas MacGillycuddy at the launch of ‘The Big House in Kerry'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

READING: Historian Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe overlooks former Labour Leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring at the lunch of her new book. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

GUESTS: At the book launch in Muckross House were former Labour leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring (left) Ann Tangney (Head Guide at Muckross House) and Maurice O'Keeffe (Irish Life and Lore). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

GROUP: Brendan O'Mahony Ruth O'Mahony Dan Kelleher and Karol O'Mahony (architect and contributor) at the launch of Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book ‘The Big House in Kerry'. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

MEETING: Former Labour leader Tánaiste and Irish Statesman Dick Spring Jane's husband Maurice O'Keeffe (left) and Dr John Knightly (Contributor) at the launch of Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe’s new book. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan
The 330-page fully illustrated book was launched in Muckross House last Friday.
Edited by Kerry-based historian Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe, ‘The Big House in Kerry’ is co-written by 11 other historians.
Each of them dedicates a chapter to great houses of Kerry including Muckross House, Killarney, Flesk Castle and Killarney House.
“It is photographic and documentary account to date of life as it was lived by the gentry of Kerry up to independence," Jane O’Hea O’Keeffe said at Friday’s launch.
"It is set out across chapters each dedicated to a large house and the family/families that inhabited it – written by some of the county’s leading historians.”
The book costs €39 and is available in all good book shops including the gift shop at Muckross House.